Antenna



Dec. 8, 1936. 1 VAN BlLLlARD 2,063,641

ANTENNA Filed Sept. 7, 1955 Inventow:

Lewis H. Van Billi vol, b 4, 8.8%

is Attorrwey Patented Dec. 8, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ANTENNANew York Application September 7, 1935, Serial No. 39,559

3 Claims.

My invention relates to radio antennae and more particularly to antennaeof the doublet type.

With the advent of all-wave radio receiving systems it has becomeincreasingly important that only specially designed antennae be used inconjunction therewith. Short waves are used primarily because of theirability to travel great distances with relatively low transmittingpower. Hence these waves are generally far weaker and fade more severelythan those from stations in the standard broadcast band (540 to 1500kilocycles). It is obvious, therefore, that the antenna must performvery efficiently in the short wave bands or reliable results will bepractically impossible. For any given wave length a conventional antennafavors certain frequencies and tends to discriminate against others. Onetype of antenna which has been found to give highly satisfactory resultsis an antenna of the V-doublet type. Such an antenna is described in acopending application of Robert B. Dome, Serial No. 758,917 which isassigned to the same assignee as the present application.

To obtain best results the antenna must be properly installed. Since allwave receivers are now a common household appliance, the facility withwhich the antenna employed therewith may be installed is of greatimportance. It is an object of my invention to provide an antennastructure which may be completely assembled into an integral unit at thefactory, packed into a compact unit for convenience and economy inshipment, and which may be then, with the greatest convenience, unpackedand installed for operation by an unskilled person with assurance ofobtaining satisfactory results.

A further object of my invention is to provide such an antenna which isfree from breakable insulators, such as those of glass, and which at thesame time avoids the necessarily cumbersome connections to suchinsulators.

It is a still further object of my invention to provide an antennaincluding conductors and insulators formed into an integral unit, andwhich when properly suspended from suitable supporting members forms anantenna of the V-doublet type.

The novel features which I believe to be characteristic of my inventionare set forth with particularity in the appended claims. My inventionitself, however, together with further objects and advantages thereof,may be best understood by reference to the following description takenin connection with the accompanying drawing.

Fig. l diagrammatically illustrates an antenna embodying one form of myinvention.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatical view of a portion of an antenna embodying amodified form of my invention.

Figs. 3 and 4 are cross sectional views of two of the insulators used inconjunction with the antenna shown in Fig. 1.

Figs. 5 and 6 are cross sectional views of two of the insulators used inconjunction with the antenna shown in Fig. 2.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing, I have illustrated therein anantenna constructed in accordance with my invention, and which comprisesoppositely extending conductors I and 2. These conductors have theirinner ends secured together but insulated from each other by insulator 3and their outer ends supported from suspension members 4 and 5 throughthe strain insulators 6 and I, respectively. Intermediate points on thetwo conductors are mechanically and nonconductively connected togetherby a suitable supporting member 8 which is of such a length as to retainconductors I and 2 in the desired form, which may be that of theV-doublet shown in the drawing. The ends of the supporting member 8 areconnected to the conductors I and 2 through insulators 9 and I0,respectively. Transmission line II and I2 may be soldered or otherwiseconnected to conductors I and 2 either within the insulator 3 or at apoint exterior thereof.

The preferred form of my invention having the insulators molded directlyto the conductors may be more readily understood by reference to Figs. 3and 4 of the drawing. Fig. 3 illustrates the manner in which the outerend of conductor I is connected to the suspension member 4 through theinsulator 6. The outer end of conductor I is bent over a small ring I3of nonconducting material. The suspension member 4 is similarly bentover the opposite side of ring I3. Rubber is then molded about the jointto form insulator 6. In order that the rubber will withstand ageing inthe sun and weather, the mix may have some suitable substance added forthis purpose. It will be apparent that the purpose of ring I3 is toprovide a means for relieving the rubber of large tensional stresses.Insulator I is formed in a similar manner about the outer end ofconductor 2 and the end of the suspension member 5.

Insulators 9 and III are constructed in a manner similar to that ofinsulators 6 and I with the exception that the conductor does notterminate within the insulator. Referring to Fig. 4, it will be seenthat conductor I passes through the ring l4 and is bent back on itselffor a distance sufficient to bring the conductor outside of theinsulator. The supporting member Bis connected to the ring M in a mannersimilar to that of suspension member 4 on ring l3. Rubber is then moldedabout the joint to form insulator 9. It will be noted that by bendingconductor l in the manner described the same type of mold may be usedfor insulator 9 as is used for insulator 6. Insulator I is formed in amanner similar to insulator 9.

Insulator 3 may be formed from the same type of mold as that used foreither insulator 6 or insulator 9 by passing conductors l and 2 throughthe ring of insulating material in the manner similar to the passage ofconductor I through insulator 9 as described above.

From the above description it will be apparent that the antennadescribed comprises a single integral unit which may be readilyassembled at the factory. The antenna unit may be folded into a smallcompact kit which may be easily shipped and readily stored. By merelyconnecting the suspension members 4 and 5 to a pair of antenna masts orany other suitable supporting members, the unskilled purchaser mayinstall the antenna for operation With assurance of obtainingsatisfactory results therefrom when used in conjunction with an all-waveradio receiver.

It will be observed that all fragile insulators, such as those of glass,together with the necessarily cumbersome connections thereto areobviated in the construction shown, thereby reducing the volume of theunit when packed for shipment, reducing breakage in shipment, andincreasing the facility with which the unit may be handled andinstalled. Mere suspension of the unit by attaching suspension members 4and 5 to supports of suitable height and distance apart is substantiallyall that is required.

Fig. 2 of the drawing illustrates a modified form of my inventionwherein molds of different shapes are used to provide insulators of amore pleasing appearance. In this modification I have substitutedinsulators l5 and I6 for the insulators 9 and ID of Fig. l. Insulatorsl5 and 16 have a form which permit conductors l and 2 to pass directlytherethrough. This will be readily understood by reference to Fig. 5where I have shown a cross section of insulator l5. Conductor I entersthe insulator [5 through end surface ll, passes through the ring l8 ofnonconducting material and then passes out of the insulator through endsurface 19. Supporting member 8 is connected to ring l8 in the mannersimilar to that described in connection with Fig. 1. Insulator I6 isformed in the manner similar to that of insulator [5.

In the place of the insulator 3 of Fig. 1, an insulator 20 may beemployed, this insulator having a generally delta shape. Since thestresses are relatively small in the insulator which is used to connectthe inner ends of conductors l and 2, I have omitted the ring ofnonconducting material which serves to relieve the large tensionalstresses in the other insulators. Instead, I simply loop each conductoronce as is indicated at 2| and 22. As is indicated in the crosssectional view of insulator 20 as shown in Fig. 6, the transmission lineII and I2 is spliced to the conductors I and 2, respectively, within thebody portion of the insulator 20.

While I have shown particular embodiments of my invention, it will ofcourse be understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto, sincemany modifications may be made, and that I therefore contemplate by theappended claims to cover all such modifications as fall within the truespirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

1. In combination, an antenna doublet comprising a pair of oppositelyextending conductors, means including a supporting member formechanically connecting said conductors together at points intermediatethe ends thereof, insulating means molded to said conductors at saidintermediate points and to the ends of said supporting member forconnecting the ends of said supporting member to said conductor, and a.second insulating means molded to the inner end of said pair ofconductors, the length of said supporting member between said firstinsulating means relative to the length of said conductors between saidfirst and second insulating means being such that when said antennadoublet is suspended from the outer ends of said conductors it fallsinto substantially an inverted delta formation, said conductorsextending continuously through said insulators to form the oppositesides of the doublet.

2. The combination, in an antenna doublet construction, a pair ofconductors and a support, means whereby said pair of conductors andsupport form an integral unit of delta form when suspended from an endof each of said conductors beyond and not greatly above said delta, saidmeans comprising insulation units molded to said conductors one at eachcorner of said delta, said insulators being of such form that saidconductors extend through said insulators and project therefrom alongthe natural lines of said delta Without abrupt bends at said insulatorsand are supported in said delta form by said support extending between apair of said insulator units.

3. An antenna comprising a pair of oppositely extending conductors, atransmission line connected to the adjacent ends of said conductors anda single substantially delta-shaped insulator molded about saidconnections, each of said conductors having a loop therein within saidinsulator.

LEWIS H. VAN BILLIARD.

